DUNDAS, ON — Lucks Mistress delivered an impressive victory over Flamboro Downs in the last of three Gold Series Eliminations on Sunday evening, powering to a 1:53.1 track and Ontario Sires Stakes record for three-year-old pacing fillies on a half-mile track.
Sent to the front from Post 5 by driver Jody Jamieson, Lucks Mistress had established a two and a half length lead before the :27.2 opening quarter. Through fractions of :56.3 and 1:24.2 the Camluck miss simply strengthened her hold on the lead, sailing under the wire six lengths ahead of Serenity Seelster and Iseerightthrough U.
The mile shaved two-fifths of a second off the 1:53.3 track and Ontario Sires Stakes record set by former provincial superstar Precious Delight in 2002. It also delivered Lucks Mistress her second straight Gold Elimination win and her third victory through seven starts this season.
Carl Jamieson of Princeton trains Lucks Mistress for his partners in the Lucks Mistress Stable, who have turned a pretty profit on the impeccably bred filly. Purchased for $110,000 in 2003, the pacer has banked $485,511 through her sophomore and freshman campaigns. She was the Ontario Sires Stakes division runner-up last year, finishing just $30,389 behind winner Lady Dillinger.
Lady Dillinger continued her impressive roll through the three-year-old pacing filly division with an effortless 1:54 score from Post 5 in the second elimination. The D M Dilinger daughter and driver Scott Coulter took command of the race just past the :27.4 opening quarter and cruised through the remainder of the race in :57 and 1:25.4 to best Armbro Cachet and Northern Diligence by three and a quarter lengths.
Waterdown’s Gaetan Hebert bred, owns and trains Lady Dillinger, who has been unstoppable since her July 9 Gold Final win at Georgian Downs. Following her return to Gold Series form, the winner of $623,915 also captured her elimination and the final of the Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk Racetrack July 22 and 30.
The other elimination went to another star from last year’s campaign. The fourth-place finisher in the Ontario Sires Stakes rankings as a two-year-old, Claire’s Apache has struggled to regain her groove this season and missed the final of two Gold events and the Canadian Breeders Championship. The Apaches Fame daughter will be there with bells on next week, however, after a crafty drive from Mike Saftic earned her a 1:54.3 victory.
With an early miscue in the Canadian Breeders elimination still fresh in his mind, Saftic babied Claire’s Apache off the starting gate and settled at the back of the field of six as Armbro Cashmere took the fillies to a lightning fast :27 opening quarter. Armbro Cashmere maintained the hot pace through a :55.4 half and then eased things up a bit heading for the 1:24.4 three-quarters.
Heading toward the three-quarter marker, Saftic tipped Claire’s Apache out behind Trace Of Luck and started to advance on the leader. At the top of the stretch she was three and a quarter lengths behind Armbro Cashmere, but Claire’s Apache had more in reserve for the stretch drive and was able to pull ahead to the half length victory. Armbro Cashmere stayed game for second and Tattootina picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $39,606 purse.
Gregg McNair of Guelph bred Claire’s Apache and also handles training duties for his partner Ian Fleming of Londesborough. The pair were delighted to see their protege score her third win in six tries this season and advance her career earnings to $285,556.
The top three fillies from each elimination will make a return journey to Flamboro Downs next Sunday for the fourth $130,000 Gold Final on their schedule. Post positions for the Aug. 14 Gold Final are:
Post 1 Lady Dillinger
Post 2 Armbro Cashmere
Post 3 Northern Diligence
Post 4 Lucks Mistress
Post 5 Armbro Cachet
Post 6 Tattootina
Post 7 Claire’s Apache
Post 8 Iseerightthrough U
Post 9 Serenity Seelster
AE1 Dream Island
AE2 Takes The Cake
AE3 Perched
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdsu.html